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Palliative care – a matter of life and death
23 May 2008
Most people don’t know what palliative care is but Hunter New England Health’s Palliative Care Program Development Officer Deborah O’Connor is urging people to learn about its benefits during Palliative Care Week 2008 (25-31 May).
While most health care is aimed at curing illness, the care of people with an incurable illness is an important part of the way Hunter New England Health cares for our community.
“Talking about illness and dying, and knowing the right questions to ask about the care and support available, is the key to ensuring loved ones live quality lives until death,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Palliative care is care provided for people of all ages who have a life-threatening illness, with little or no prospect of cure, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life.
“It deals with the management of pain and other symptoms as well as psychological, social, spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families.”
Palliative care services are delivered by medical, nursing and allied health staff. In many cases, palliative care can be delivered in the comfort of a patient’s home.
Ms O’Connor said that while terminal illness and death are a part of life and will touch us all in some way, it’s a subject that many would rather not know or talk about.
“There is a lack of understanding as to what palliative care is and the benefits to patients, families, friends and the community,” Ms O’Connor said.
“Unfortunately, not knowing correlates with poor access to available services and poorer outcomes for the patient, families and caregivers – so it’s important to know what options are available to ensure the patient and their family can spend quality time together in the time before death.
If we talk about these issues of death and loss, we can assist ourselves and our communities to care for each other.”
Palliative Care Week is also a time to celebrate and thank the many health professionals, families and carers who care every day for the 100,000 Australians that die each year through a terminal condition.
Further information on palliative care can also be found at www.pallcare.org.au
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: (02)6767 7137 or 0428 114 767
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